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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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RBA interest rates: Reserve Bank holds cash rate at 4.35% as house prices continue to fall
In a widely expected decision, the Reserve Bank of Australia holds interest rate after three consecutive hikes Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The Reserve Bank has held the cash rate at 4.35% in a widely expected decision despite persistent worries about elevated inflation. The announcement comes amid a steep decline in property prices in Sydney and Melbourne after three rate hikes earlier this year and major reforms to investor taxes. Continue reading...
Clover Moore unveils 4,500 sq metre Sydney plaza design after more than 40 years of planning
Lord mayor says Town Hall square will be ‘fantastic’ – but business advocate says project’s scale of demolition presents ‘unwanted disruption’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Sydneysiders have been given a first glimpse of a new public square set to “unify” the CBD, more 40 years after the project was initially conceived. The City of Sydney on Tuesday released new renders of a plaza that will be built opposite Sydney town hall after the council began finalising discussions with the owners of the last of seven buildings that need to be acquired and bulldozed for the project. Continue reading...
Trump hid in catering cart to board secret flight in Turkey amid Iran threat – reports
Elaborate ruse was used to transport president to military flight from Air Force One to return from Nato meet Prompted by an Iranian assassination threat, Donald Trump departed on a secret military flight from Turkey last month when the White House said he was flying aboard Air Force One, in an extraordinary ruse that involved hiding the president in an airport catering cart, according to reporting from the Washington Post and the New York Times. The operation took place when Trump was in Ankara for a Nato summit with world leaders, according to the Post . The president reportedly boarded the old Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras, and then was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane via an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies preflight, a US official told the Post. Continue reading...
Native birds in captivity to be vaccinated against H5 bird flu as Australia prepares for more mass mortalities
Federal government also hopes to vaccinate some wild birds but admits catching them once, let alone twice for both doses, is ‘difficult’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Vaccinations against H5 bird flu will be rolled out for Australian native bird species in captivity as the deadly virus continues to spread across the country. The federal agriculture minister, Julie Collins, said on Tuesday that target native species in captivity would be prioritised with the first vaccinations to commence “in the coming days and weeks”. Continue reading...
Republicans name candidate to replace Chuck Edwards after sexual harassment investigation
Jennifer Balkcom to face Democrat Jamie Ager in race to represent North Carolina’s 11th congressional district North Carolina Republicans on Monday chose state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom to replace Chuck Edwards, the incumbent congressman who earlier this month dropped his re-election bid after a US House investigation determined his conduct towards to young female staffers likely amounted to sexual harassment. Balkcom will face off against the Democratic nominee, Jamie Ager, in the November midterm elections to represent the 11th congressional district in western North Carolina. Though Donald Trump won the district by 10 percentage points two years ago, Democrats believe Ager may have a shot at winning amid the president’s low approval ratings and frustration over the pace of recovery from Hurricane Helene , which devastated the region in 2024. Continue reading...
Victoria to ban suppression orders for rapists following Ralph Carr, Tom Silvagni convictions under new pledge
Premier Ben Carroll promises if re-elected to ‘close every loophole’ used by high-profile accused and convicted criminals to hide their identities in the courts The use of suppression orders by convicted rapists will be banned in Victoria, premier Ben Carroll has announced, with his government committed to “closing every loophole” accused people currently “abuse and exploit” to hide their identities in the state’s courts. Carroll and the state’s attorney-general, Sonya Kilkenny, made the commitment to amend the states Open Courts Act to limit the use of suppression orders if re-elected in November. Continue reading...
Judge temporarily blocks Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax on second homes
New York mayor’s office plans to appeal ruling, which comes after homeowners sued over property surcharges last week A judge has temporarily blocked Zohran Mamdani ’s pied-à-terre tax , which would place a surcharge on second homes in New York City , dealing a blow to the progressive New York City mayor after homeowners sued over the policy. The tax would apply to people who own, but do not reside full-time in, any house worth more than $5m, or a condominium or cooperative unit worth at least $1m. Continue reading...
Panathinaikos owner says he attempted to lure three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić to Europe
Dimitrios Giannakopoulo says he tried to buy out contract Jokić set to make more than $100m over next two seasons Panathinaikos Basketball Club owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos says he attempted to lure three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić to his team for this coming season. Giannakopoulos, whose net worth is estimated anywhere from $500m and $1.9bn, said in a Euro Insiders podcast released on Monday that he pitched the Denver Nuggets on buying out Jokić’s contract and bringing him to Athens. Continue reading...
Trump’s media company, which also owns Truth Social, reports $238m loss
Company also announced a paid service for early access to president’s posts on policies to the social media site Donald Trump’s media company – which owns the Truth Social platform favored by the US president – posted a $238m loss in the second quarter. Trump Media & Technology on Monday reported that losses in the three months through June came as the company branched into new ventures including crypto. The company’s new chief executive, Kevin McGurn, announced at a conference call about the earnings that after a yearlong effort to expand into online betting and crypto, the company would be refocusing on social media. Continue reading...
Jackie, a beloved bald eagle and livestream star, dies of mysterious illness
Thousands mourn the death of the eagle at California’s Big Bear Lake, whose life was closely followed via livestream Jackie – the beloved bald eagle at California’s Big Bear Lake whose livestream was followed by millions of viewers as she birthed and raised chicks – died on Monday due to a mysterious illness. She was 14. Jackie had been receiving treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center since mid-July when she was found weak and unable to fly after a scuffle with two younger eagles. Experts at the center had discovered that she was suffering from severe anemia, and suspected she had been sick for weeks before the fight grounded her. Continue reading...
Ilhan Omar questions whether Trump administration has used ICE to ‘surveil’ critics
Congresswoman demands answers after a DHS agent was apparently stationed outside her Minnesota town hall Donald Trump’s administration is facing questions over whether it is using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “surveil political opponents” after after an investigative agent was apparently stationed outside Democratic representative Ilhan Omar’s monthly town hall meeting in Richfield, Minnesota. After the incident, Omar demanded the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarify whether Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents have been used to monitor “any other activity” involving “local, state, or federal officials” in the state. Continue reading...
Australia politics live: independent MP accuses Labor of ‘listening to the money and the power’ on gambling ad policy
Labor looks to negotiate with the Coalition to get several pieces of legislation through parliament. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Government sticks to Treasury advice on cooling housing market The finance minister, Katy Gallagher , has been tapped on the shoulder to do the media rounds this morning ahead of the RBA’s rates decision. There are other factors that influence the housing market, including the interest rate increases that we have seen over the last few months … the Treasury advice to us was that house prices would continue to grow slightly slower. Our focus on the housing market is making those tax changes so that first home buyers can get into the housing market, but also focusing on supply to make sure we’re building enough houses for people to buy. In 2017, when the last round of partial restrictions came in, the money just moved around. And for example, gambling ads after 8.30 more than doubled, increased 131%. And I suspect that that’s what we’re going to see here too: is the money moving around. I think it is about the government listening to the money and the power, not the people. The gambling companies make big political donations. They are present lobbyists in this building. We’re hearing their talking points coming out of the prime minister’s mouth. And the media companies and the sports codes make a lot of money out of gambling too. Unfortunately, Australians pay the cost for that. And the average Australian household loses more in gambling than they pay for in electricity. So this is our blind spot. Continue reading...
Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops
Vape shops in England and Wales to be subject to planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland Councils are to be given powers to stop betting and vape shops taking over their high streets under new plans announced by Andy Burnham. Local authorities will be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres, while vape shops will be subject to planning permission under plans Downing Street says could be in place from the start of next year. Continue reading...
Boat operator faces federal charges after mother and infant killed in New York capsizing
Sara Sanchez, 27, and her daughter died after a speedboat capsized in the New York Harbor over the weekend The driver of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter, was charged on Monday with causing their deaths through misconduct or neglect. Manuel Hernandez, 46, wiped his eyes with his hand as he arrived for his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was not required to enter a plea and was released on bail. Continue reading...
Nearly 30 pine trees intentionally poisoned in Lake Tahoe’s Nevada side
Incidents of damaged trees at Burnt Cedar beach have been reported since 2022 and seem to be linked, officials say Pine trees near Lake Tahoe are being poisoned in what authorities believe are a series of interconnected incidents in the popular tourist community on border of Nevada and California . The incidents have damaged nearly 30 trees, some reportedly more than a century old, and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. Continue reading...
Trump demands Iran pay compensation for decades of US soldier deaths
US president’s statement is latest sign that negotations to end war and reopen strait of Hormuz have stalled Donald Trump has said he will demand that Iran pay compensation for the deaths of thousands of US soldiers and Iran’s own civilians killed in recent decades in the latest sign his negotiations to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz have reached an impasse. The US president is trying to end conflicts in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon, and his additional demands of Iran are likely to provoke anger in Tehran at the same time as Israel has rejected Trump’s terms for a 15-point roadmap to end the war in Gaza. Continue reading...
‘National priority’ to equip UK firefighters amid growing wildfire threat
Exclusive: FBU calls for more funding as ‘unprecedented summer’ puts rising demands on already stretched crews Firefighters in the UK are under increased pressure as a result of an “unprecedented summer of dangerous and volatile wildfires”, the Fire Brigades Union has said, as many parts of the country brace for a fifth heatwave of the year. As authorities declared almost three-quarters of England was now in drought, Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, said the unpredictable environmental challenges the UK was now confronted with meant it was a “national priority” to have enough properly equipped firefighters to “face these threats”. Continue reading...
Trump signs order overriding CDC vaccine schedule and breaking up measles, mumps and rubella shots
Order also recommends all shots be given at separate medical visits though cost of doing them together is lower It’s an attempt to undergird the changes made earlier this year to CDC vaccination recommendations, which were halted by a federal judge. The CDC is the federal agency tasked with recommending vaccines, not the White House. The order would also require that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine be broken into three separate shots, once it becomes available in the US. And it would recommend that all shots be given at separate medical visits, a frequent point Donald Trump has made despite the safety, ease and lower costs of giving vaccines together. Continue reading...
Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer, sworn in as US attorney general
Loyalist sworn in after Senate voted narrowly in favor of his confirmation Saturday morning Todd Blanche has been sworn as US attorney general, cementing Donald Trump’s installation of his former personal attorney in charge of the Department of Justice. Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since April, was confirmed in his new position during a ceremony at the White House on Monday. Continue reading...
July was hottest month ever recorded in US as heatwaves scorched country
Scientists have made clear that the elevated heat in the US was being amplified by the human-caused climate crisis July was the hottest month ever recorded in the US, with repeated, scorching heatwaves across much of the country helping shatter all previous monthly temperature records stretching back over the full 132 years of reliable measurements. Last month’s average temperature was 3.3F (1.8C) higher than the 20th century average for the contiguous United States, which excludes Alaska and Hawaii, according to new data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Continue reading...
Ann Widdecombe police investigate whether accused had role in Farage incident
Police looking into whether Joshua Kerry linked to alleged attempted burglary last year at Reform leader’s then home Police are investigating whether Joshua Kerry, the man charged with the murder of the former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, had any role in an attempted burglary last year at the then London home of Nigel Farage. Kerry, 28, from Rotherham, was charged with the murder of Widdecombe, 78, who was killed at her Devon home in July, after an investigation by counter-terrorism police. Continue reading...
Labour peer urges Badenoch to reverse decision on ex-neo-Nazi’s advisory role
Luciana Berger, who was subject to abuse from Joshua Bonehill-Paine, said Tory leader should ‘listen to victims’ The Labour peer Luciana Berger has urged Kemi Badenoch to “listen to victims” and reverse her decision to give a national advisory role to a former neo-Nazi. Joshua Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2015 for more than three years after posting antisemitic material online before a planned neo-Nazi rally. In 2016, he was found guilty of racially aggravated harassment for abuse directed at Berger, an MP at the time. He was also the founder and leader of the National British Resistance, a far-right group. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on the failed Gaza peace plan: Trump’s hollow claims are ignored in Jerusalem | Editorial
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has no interest in agreeing to a deal. For relief to come to Gaza, real US pressure must be exerted At the end of July, Donald Trump announced that a “monumental” US-backed deal had been struck on Gaza, securing the phased disarmament of Hamas in parallel with Israeli military withdrawal. Three days later it was reported that another 18 people had died in Israeli airstrikes. Not for the first time, it appeared that Mr Trump’s rhetoric had only a distant relationship with the reality it purported to describe. Such suspicions were duly confirmed yesterday. Under pressure from far-right members of his coalition, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, explicitly rejected the sequencing of a 15-point plan from the increasingly hapless Board of Peace – an international body set up by the US president – and poured scorn on “a wave of rumours of … Israeli withdrawals on all fronts”. In a direct message to the White House, Mr Netanyahu stated that “we know how to stand our ground, even against our best friends when necessary.” Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
Bernie Sanders calls on Silicon Valley to ‘pause AI development’ in interest of humanity
Progressive US senator urges Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic to ‘stop building machines that humans cannot control’ Senator Bernie Sanders has called on Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic executives to halt their development of artificial intelligence, warning that the US Senate will implement regulation if the companies continue deploying AI at their current pace. In a new letter addressed to the CEOs of three of the country’s leading AI companies, Sanders said the capabilities of these AI models have reached a critical risk threshold and that the companies are losing control over the technology. Continue reading...